Barnes captures national Player of the Week honors

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. -- Cass Barnes' performance Saturday in
leading Tech to a 28-point fourth quarter and comeback victory over
No. 4 Jacksonville State has earned the senior quarterback
selection as national co-Offensive Player of the Week from The
Sports Network.

Barnes' selection marks the second time this season that The
Sports Network has looked to the Golden Eagles for national
recognition. Following Tech's win over Eastern Illinois, Caleb
Mitchell and Marcus Edwards were named co-Defensive Player of the
Week.

Barnes was rather pedestrian through three quarters on Saturday,
but his performance in the final quarter not only garnered him
national attention, it propelled Tennessee Tech to a 35-24 upset of
then-No. 4 Jacksonville State.

Trailing 24-7 in the fourth quarter, Barnes led the Golden Eagles
on four consecutive scoring drives (of 80, 84, 88 and 11 yards).
The senior quarterback accounted for 264 yards of total offense in
the fourth quarter alone, including 215 yards and a touchdown on
10-of-11 passing and 49 rushing yards. Before Barnes' impressive
finish, the Golden Eagles had gained just 197 yards of total
offense and managed just one touchdown through three quarters.
Barnes finished with 271 passing yards and a touchdown and 88
rushing yards.

He shares the Offensive Player of the Week honor with quarterback
Mike Brown of Liberty. The Defensive Player of the Week was senior
defensive end Markel Carter of Central Arkansas, while The Sports
Network selected runningback Zach Bauman of Northern Arizona as the
Freshman of the Week.